Why do some people believe the U.S. is dominated by fundamentalists christians?

Question

I would agree with this statement if it was a hundred years ago. If this were true abortion would be illegal, no rated R movies or porn, no explicit lyrics in music, no sex education in schools, being gay would be a crime. and this lists could go on and on. Each generation becomes more liberal in their beliefs as a whole. I am not a religious person and do not see this.

Answer 1

I think it is dominated by religious sinners.

Answer 2

And, if Bush could have his way, homosexuality WOULD BE illegal. They are trying to stop abortion, and the religious right is always boycotting and causing problems for videogame makers - just look at Manhunt 2 - most anticipated game of the year - reshelved and probably will never be released because FUNDIES complained about its ultraviolence. The govt is trying to replace sex education with abstinence training.

So, dominated might be a stretch - but fundies are doing their best to dominate.

Answer 3

It is and it isnt.

Most Americans are Christians however, most Christians are not fundamentalists. The creation of the Moral Majority changed the paradigm. Before the Moral Majority, Christians in America largely believed that politics and religion were separate matters and used both the bible and constitution to support this view.

Roe v. Wade was the biggest influence. So passionate was the response to Roe, that many Christians started buying into the Moral Majority's justification for becoming an organized lobby and power base.

Answer 4

The term 'fundamentalist' when employed in speeches and other opinionated scripts should be better understood by the user and used in the correct context as opposed to applying it broadly to all Christians, the faithful and people that believe in God or a higher being, but do not necessarily attend churches.

I hear the word fundamentalist I think of places like Iraq or Iran and the people that blow themselves up. At least Christians give you the opportunity to think freely and liberally and hope and maybe even expect that maturity brings wisdom and not profound ignorance.

You should be grateful that you live in a country like the USA, you have enough freedom to screw up and maybe even correct that screw up.

Hence the saying "The Land of the Free". take that in the correct context and you will improve.

Answer 5

Darth Tater! (I have a Darth Tater keychain.)



The perception abroad is certainly that the U.S. is dominated by fundies, and to some extent it's right. Abortion is still somewhat restricted, stem cell research is majorly restricted, and gay people do not have equal rights.

The situation continues to improve, though.

And it's not like I value Europe's opinion *that* much. Any place so wildly frightened of genetic engineering comes off, at least to me, as little more thoughtful than a group of religious fundies.

Answer 6

Dominated is a bit of a stretch, but around 40% of the US is fundie. If you read Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation, between 30 and 40% of the population believes the Bible is the literal word of God, rejects evolution, etc.

At the moment a fundamentalist Methodist is president.

Answer 7

Because its the fundamentalist screaming the loudest. They make the whole country look bad along with Christianity.

Answer 8

Interesting point. The days of the nuclear family, modesty and clean entertainment have passed. What was the catalyst that infused liberalism into our culture?

Thanks Sith Lord Tater for posting a ? for all to ponder!

Answer 9

President, congress and senate for two terms. I think that having political control and stacking the courts with fundies is kind of an indicator.

Answer 10

We judge a country by its leader, and our president is a Christian Fundamentalist.